November 5, 2015

Jon Caldera on "The Shellacking"

But think what the enemies of reform had to do. In order to win they had to embrace our policies. This is amazing.

In order to win the JeffCo recall, all the replacement candidates campaigned that they wouldn't reverse the policies of the reform board. They campaigned that they wouldn't return to funding charter schools less than other schools. They campaigned that they'd keep pay-for-preformance. They won't close a new charter school that's freeing 500 children to get better educations. They have a new, first-in-the-nation union contract which ends seniority, payroll dues deductions, and ends a coin-flip to decide teacher employment (yes, literally).

For those familiar with the term, the Overton Window in education reform has moved dramatically in Colorado, and in order for the unions to win they had to embrace that change. They could only run the recall on personal attacks, the board is "disrespectful," and fibs, "the board violated open meetings laws." They couldn't and didn't run on the policy changes made. Wow.

Yeah, but. Cannot one file this away with Sen, Harry Reid's getting the NRA endorsement? It's okay if they win and enact their policies as long as they lie?

Yes, Caldera is on Mike Rosen right now reporting on this. I was hoping on this.... and the Independence Institute (and Complete Colorado) now have a leg up on 9News (wait for the "MSM=Super PAC" theme to continue!). Shoot, I might just sign up to be an I2I intern there... they's what sends a shiver up MY leg!

He's saying the reforms were fantastically popular - union contract is down to 40 pages (from 120), they must strike (if they must) in the Summer (!); automatic dues deductions also gone... that's terrific.

Still, not a good day, but surely the hijinks, out of state money and bad reporting can provide lots of fodder for future writing... the unions have their folks, but we have the I2I, and now Complete Colorado (which looks a lot like Drudge...).

This election has proven that while powerful interests can win elections, they cannot kill ideas.

I also want to quote Pyhrrus after Asulum:
"If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined"

Posted by: nanobrewer at November 5, 2015 3:53 PM

ahh, typing; the quote was from the battle of Asculum, which with Beneventum are counted as the original examples of Pyhrric victories.

Posted by: nanobrewer at November 5, 2015 4:53 PM

Didja hear the female caller who was disappointed that Rosen and Caldera were dismissing the wishes of the 2/3 majority who wanted a change?

Rosen asked her if she liked performance based pay? "No." And a couple other examples of "our policies" that the replacement candidates didn't dare say they opposed. "No."

Caldera asked her why she voted to recall and seat new board members who promised to continue the exact same policies? She refused to answer.

I'll answer: Because she knows full well that despite the public statements in support of the reform agenda, the replacement candidates will do everything they can to return Jeffco public schools to "business as usual" i.e. "It's called the TEACHERS union, not the STUDENTS AND PARENTS union."

But like the candidates themselves, the caller didn't dare let the truth slip past her lips.